Sebastian

I’ve made my series of emperrors but only from coins of Cappadocia. I Think it’s really good. Best!

Thank You very much for Your feedback and help. I’ll write tomorrow for refund. Best!

Hello! I’ve bought this coin some time Ago. Do You think is this coin a moden fake? https://elsen.bidinside.com/en/lot/24322/claude-41-54-ar-denier-50-54-rome-d-/

Thank You Klaus! Best!

As in the title of a topic. What means in Your opinion symbol of clasped hands (dextrarum iunctio) on legionary eagle resting on prow? first used this symbol Domitian on roman denarius, next Nerva and Trajan on roman and capadocian coins. I know that symbol of dextrarum iunctio was used earlier, but what means here aquilla and prow?

Great coin! Congratulation! This is my As of Vespasian

Strabo "Geographica" . In this Antitaurus are deep and narrow valleys, in which are situated Comana and the temple of Enyo, whom the people there call “Ma.” It is a considerable city ; its inhabitants, however, consist mostly of the divinely inspired people and the temple-servants who live init. Its inhabitants are Cataonians, who, though in a general way classed as subject to the king, are in most respects subject to the priest. The priest is master of the temple, and also of the temple-servants, who on my sojourn there were more than six thousand in number, men and women together. Also, considerable territory belongs to the temple, and the revenue is enjoyed by the priest. He is second in rank in Cappadocia after the king; and in general the priests belonged to the same family as the kings. It is thought that Orestes, with his sister Iphigeneia, brought these sacred rites here from the Tauric Seythia, the rites in honour of Artemis Tauropolus, and that here they also deposited the hair! of mourning; whence the city’s name. Now the Sarus River flows through this city and passes out through the gorges of the Taurus to the plains of the Cilicians and to the sea that lies below them. Denomination: Tridrachm, Ag Obverse: Laureate head of Hadrian to right, ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟC CЄΒΑCΤΟC Reverse: Radiate figure of Enyo/Mâ standing facing, looking left, her right hand on a shield, a club on her left arm, in the center of a temple with four columns, ΥΠΑΤΟC Γ, ΠΑΤΗΡ ΠΑΤΡΙΔΟC Reference: RPC III 3161.3, Sydenham, Caesarea 276, Ganschow, Münzen 168, Metcalf Conspectus 110 corr. Mint: Cappadocia, Comana (Hierapolis), 128-138 A.D. Weight: 9,59 g Diameter: 24,5mm I never thought that I would be able to add to my "Cappadocian" collection this tridrachm minted in the cappadocian Comana (Hierapolis) during the reign of Hadrian. So far, only two copies of this coin have been known, both of which are in the Berlin Staatlichen Museen museum. This museum offers the possibility of "adopting" the coin and becoming its virtual patron for a small fee (I admit that out of a great desire to have this coin, even in a virtual form, I considered this option). As it turns out, the Cappadocian land still hides many treasures and with great luck this value has joined my collection. The tetrastyle temple depicted on the coin is symbolically depicted of the no longer existing, Great Temple of goddess Mâ in Cappadocian Comana, while the goddess standing in a radial crown with a shield and a club is Mâ herself. Ancient Comana had a semi-autonomous character, because although it was subject to royal power, and in Roman times the governor and procurator, the power over the city was exercised by the high priest of the temple. The priests were aristocrats, coming from a royal family and their rank was second only to the king, and later to the Roman superior. Whether Orestes and Iphigenia really existed would be difficult to prove, but the fact is that the cult of Mâ, in many aspects, resembled that of temples dedicated to Artemis, who, by the way, was also often featured on the reverse of Cappadocian coins. Suffice it to mention the "sacred prostitution", for which the most famous temple of Artemis in Ephesus – Artemision – was famous, just like the temple in Comana. The cult of Mâ-Bellona spread by Sulla and his legionaries, who, after visiting the temple in Comana, chose her as the guide of his military activities. The goddess accepted his prayers and guided his actions through dream visions, as we can read in Plutarch. Similarly, the great Julius Caesar visited the temple of Mâ in 47 BC, during his operations in the east and his march through Cappadocia. Caesar, during his stay in Comana, granted the priesthood to a member of the royal family – Lycomedes, making him the high priest of the temple there. We learn about Caesar's stay in Comana from "Bellum Alexandrinum (Alexandrian War)". Emperor Caracalla transformed Comana into a Roman colony, and the Great Temple of Mâ itself enjoyed splendor until the official recognition of Christianity. The ruins of ancient Comana are located in the modern Turkish village of Şarköy in Adana province. To this day, archaeologists have not been able to irrefutably determine the place where one of the most important temples in Anatolia, and perhaps the whole of Asia Minor, once stood. My full collection of cappadocian provincial coinage You can watch here: https://www.colleconline.com/en/collection-items/21237/coins-ancient-to-romans-provincial-in-the-shadow-of-mount-argaeus-cappadocia-roman-province

What more could you want than a beautifully preserved coin, with an great patina and excellent provenance? Such art found its way into my Cappadocian collection. Its provenance dates back to 1936, where at an auction in Lucerne (Switzerland), at Adolf Hess's auction house, the Reverend Edward A. Sydenham put up for sale his collection of coins from Roman Cappadocia. It was a truly excellent collection, it was mainly on its basis that Sydenham created the first catalogue of coins from Caesarea ("The Coinage of Caesarea in Cappadocia"). My coin was number 143, its condition was described as "superbe"! Fortunately, it was also photographed and placed at the end of the album. Its estimated value, determined by Hess, was 12 francs. I'm lucky to have managed to get such a miracle piece! This is the fulfillment of one of my numismatic dreams. MARCUS AURELIUS (161-180) Denomination: Didrachm, Ag Obverse: Laureate head of Marcus Aurelius, right, ΑΥΤΟΚΡ ΑΝΤΩΝЄΙΝΟС CЄΒ Reverse: Mount Argaeus with trees; above, star, ΥΠΑΤΟС Γ Reference: RPC IV 7020.2, Sydenham, Caesarea 328, Ganschow, Münzen 255c.5 (this coin), Metcalf Conspectus 130b Mint: Cappadocia, Caesarea, 161-166 A.D. Weight: 5,85 g Diameter: 21mm Provenance: CNG, ex Wild Rose Collection. Ex Reverend Edward A. Sydenham Collection (Hess Luzern, 28 April 1936), lot 143

New coin of Cappadocia have joined my collection: TRANQUILLINA (241-244) Denomination: Didrachm, Ag Obverse: Diademed and draped bust of Tranquillina, right, ϹΑΒΙΝΙΑ ΤΡΑΝΚΥΛΛΙΝΑ ΑΥ Reverse: View of Mount Argaeus; above, to left and right, pellet, ΜΗΤΡΟ ΚΑΙϹΑ Β ΝΕ, ΕΤ Δ Reference: RPC VII.2 3279, Sydenham, Caesarea -, Ganschow, Münzen - Mint: Cappadocia, Caesarea, 241 A.D. Weight: 5,70 g Diameter: 21mm https://www.colleconline.com/en/collection-items/21237/coins-ancient-to-romans-provincial-in-the-shadow-of-mount-argaeus-cappadocia-roman-province?page=0

A fantastic coin for an excellent price, what more could you want! Ptolemy I Soter (305-282) Tetradrachm, Alexandria (305-304/3), 28mm 15.52g Svoronos 142 This is probably one of the most emblematic coin of antiquity. The obverse shows for the first time the image of the deified Alexander III the Great in the diadem and scalp of an elephant. It is difficult to say whether it was minted under Ptolemy as the satrap of Egypt or as an independent ruler of the kingdom on the Nile. In any case, it was Ptolemy I who tricked the funeral procession into 321 BCE, which was heading, with Alexander's body, to Aegai in Macedonia and directed it to Egypt. Alexander's body was initially laid to rest in Memphis, and later transferred to Alexandria. The grave of the great Macedonian has not been found to this day. The elephant's scalp on Alexander's head can have a twofold meaning. This is how the personification of Africa was presented, so it may be a reference to the wresting of Egypt from the hands of the Persians. Similarly, Bactrian and Hindu rulers adorned their heads, which may refer to the ends of the world, the mountains of the Hindu Kush, which Alexander the Great reached in his conquests. On the reverse we have a beautiful representation of Athena Alkidemos, and on the right side an eagle sitting on a lightning bolt, which will become a symbol of coins minted by the Ptolemaic dynasty. A word about the scratches on the reverse, which are actually ancient "graffiti" in Aramaic. I hunted for this coin for a long time, but it finally joined the collection! By the way, do you know anything more about these Aramaic graffiti?

NERO (54-68) Denomination: Didrachm, Ag Obverse: Laureate head of Nero, right, NERO CLAVD DIVI CLAVD F CAESAR AVG GERMA Reverse: Laureate head of Claudius, right, DIVOS CLAVD AVGVST GERMANIC PATER AVG Reference: RPC I 3652, Sydenham, Caesarea 68, Ganschow, Münzen 61a Mint: Cappadocia, Caesarea, 63-65 A.D. Weight: 7,01 g Diameter: 24,5mm Provenance: CNG, ex Libertas Collection, purchased 12 February 1989 https://www.colleconline.com/en/collection-items/21237/coins-ancient-to-romans-provincial-in-the-shadow-of-mount-argaeus-cappadocia-roman-province

A new, excellent coin in my Cappadocian collection! Nero's didrachm minted in Caesarea (63-65 A.D.) RPC I 3652, Sydenham, Caesarea 68, Ganschow, Münzen 61a I was looking for such a wonderful specimen for a long time – 24.5mm!! – It's actually the size of a tridrachma. Two wonderful portraits, and Divus Caludius strongly resembled Nero's biological father 🙂 https://www.colleconline.com/en/items/339608/coins-ancient-to-romans-provincial-nero-54-68

My new drachm of Trajan (98-117) struck in Caesarea, Cappadocia (114-116) RPC III 3066.2, Sydenham, Caesarea - Only two specimens of this type are known. Attention is drawn to the magnificent bust of Emperor Trajan in paludament and armor. On the reverse of the coin, Nike walks victoriously, announcing Trajan's successive victories in the east. It is after this campaign that the empire will reach its greatest size. https://www.colleconline.com/en/items/339248/coins-ancient-to-romans-provincial-trajan-98-117-r4

Hello! Today, two wonderful coins have joined my Cappadocian collection. The first is a drachm of Septimius Severus (193-211), proudly presenting the victorious Nike on the reverse. The coin was minted in the second year of the emperor's reign 193/194 A.D. Nike proclaims the victory of Septimius in the civil war, and above all over the defeated Pescenius Niger and the coming of peace in the empire. By the way, Severus' face is somewhat reminiscent of the defeated Niger, who minted a large part of his denarii in Cappadocian Caesarea. The second coin is a real rarity of the collection. Didrachm of Diadumenian minted in 217 A.D. We know only about four specimens of this coin, and the portrait of the young Caesar is one of the best preserved on this type. This coin is most often referred to a drachm. In my opinion, this is a mistake, because the weight of the coin (4.89g) suggests rather the equivalent of a didrachm. https://www.colleconline.com/en/collection-items/21237/coins-ancient-to-romans-provincial-in-the-shadow-of-mount-argaeus-cappadocia-roman-province?page=0

Mysia, Pergamon Q. Caecilius Metellus Pius Scipio, imperator, 49/8 BC. AR Cistophoric Tetradrachm (28 mm, 11,82 g.). Obv: Cista mystica with half-open lid from which a serpent issues to the left; around, ivy wreath with fruits. Rev: Q · METELLVS · PIVS · / SCIPIO IMPER Between facing serpents, legionary eagle on pole; in left field, monogram of Pergamon. LRC 4.2, Series XVII 207 (O14/R107). Pinder 192. Stumpf 68

Great coin and provenance. Mine exemplar of Diva Faustyna (RIC 753) with a legend: MATRI CASTRORVM (mother of the camp). Bought on Kuenker auction.

For me it’s a fake coin. Look at my exemplar (it’s from Saltons collection, bought on Kuenker auction) it looks nearly like a different coin.

Congratulation! I’ve two coins of Caius (Caligula) in my collection. Drachm from Caesarea, Cappadocia and tetradrachm with mother Agrippina from Antioch, Syria.

Thank You All for Your reactions and answers in this topic. It’s good to know that so many people are interested in wonderful coinage of this province. I’ve started write a book about this time in Cappadocia. Every chapter contain one cappadocian coin, article about this coin and a short novel from a time when a coin was struck. I’m writing in polish but I would like to translate it to English. Best!

Yeah. Problem is that in gospel is exactly the word „denari” which suggest a Roman denarius but the truth is that cappadocian drachm was much more popular in Judea than a Roman denarius.

Thank You.

Hello! I would like to invite You to discussion about Cappadocia as Roman Province. I’m trying to build really profesional collection of it. Here is also link to my collection of Cappadocian coins. https://www.colleconline.com/en/collection-items/21237/coins-ancient-to-romans-provincial-in-the-shadow-of-mount-argaeus-cappadocia-roman-province best regards!